Tottenham On This Day: Martin Chivers Goal Takes Spurs To Wembley
By Logan Holmes
Martin Chivers scores the winning goal against Wolves [Photo: Logan Holmes]30th December, 1972
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (aet)
League Cup Semi-Final(2nd Leg)
Scorers: Peters, Chivers Opp.o.g., Richards
Team: Jennings; Evans, Knowles; Pratt, England, Naylor; Gilzean (Coates), Perryman, Chivers, Peters, Pearce
Spurs v Wolves 1973 LC s/f [Photo: Logan Holmes]With a one goal advantage from the first leg, Spurs had to fight all the way to reach their second the League Cup Final. Early goals from Martin Peters and John Pratt at Molineux had put Spurs in the ascendency against Wolves in the first game.
Originally, the clubs had been due to play in the League but the Cup tie took precedence. Wolves came determined to throw caution to the wind while Spurs looked to hold what thy had. Wolves deservedly equalised when Terry Naylor conceded an own goal in the 38th minute to level the tie.
In a highly contested match with neither side giving anything away, Pat Jennings was called upon to make a number of saves to keep Spurs hopes alive. Martin Peters eventually equalised for Spurs in the 67th minute with a typical glancing header.
It was in the final minute of normal time that Richards put Wolves ahead on the day and level on aggregate to take the nerve-tingling match into extra time. Phil Parkes in the Wolves goal made a number of outstanding saves in extra time from Mike England, Martin Chivers and Jimmy Pearce as Spurs came forward looking for the goal to take them into the Final. It eventually came in the 113th minute from who else but Chivers who hammered the ball into the net.
After that Peters was put through by Chivers but was foiled by the keeper and in a last dramatic finish Wolves threw everything at Spurs to try and take the tie to a third game.
Spurs were in their second League Final in three seasons and were to face Norwich City at Wembley.